570.235.1946

help@nepageeks.com
152 N. Pennsylvania Ave.

Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
In-Shop Hours Mon - Fri 9 AM - 5 PM

Weekends Emergency Support Only

tune up Tag

12 Jan

Posted at 21:20h in Blog Post
0 Likes

Why Do Computers Slow Down Over Time? Computers slow down over time. Remember the awe you felt when you turned on your new computer and it loaded in a flash? Your computer was the envy of your friends and you weren’t afraid to bathe in that glory. Button on, ready to go, those were the days! What happened? After a year or two, it doesn’t seem to be quite as zippy…no, you’re not imagining it. It really has slowed down, not just in comparison to newer models and your expectations…There’s a measurable drop in speed and power that has nothing to do with worn out parts. The good news is a little maintenance can have that baby cruising at top speed again. Let’s take a leisurely walk through the system and spot the culprits: Start-up applications It’s super convenient to have Skype start automatically and your anti-virus too. In fact, many of the applications starting themselves with the computer are essential to your experience. But some of them are getting a little too ‘helpful’. For example, iTunes helper loads in the background to speed things up when you connect your device – but if you can’t even remember the last time you ran iTunes on your computer, then it can go. Programs like that are holding onto a portion of your processing power and adding to your speed issues. The average home computer automatically loads around 75 programs at start-up! Click to read more about configuring start-up applications. Temporary junk Computers are kind of messy. They leave temporary files and snippets of information all over your hard drive, each action leaving a trail rather like a roaming toddler with a sticky sandwich. Every webpage, every image on that webpage, every program you run and every game you play leaves something behind. It may be the tidbits of information called “cookies”, saved game files, auto-restore files or even a log so that you can hit the undo button 100 times while it remembers your actions for you. The more junk your computer builds up, the slower it gets. Viruses and malware These infections sit in the background consuming resources while doing various nightmarish things. They may be spying on your actions, stealing your information or reaching out through your network to infect others. Occasionally, the impact is limited to seeing your computer slow to a crawl, however the flow-on financial costs of an infection can easily reach into the thousands. Bloating With every new version of software comes a new set of features, introductory sequences and design improvements. The problem with this is the application becomes larger and larger with each new version, requiring more system resources to install and run – and slowing your computer down. Just like a car, computers need regular maintenance - we offer a Tune-Up service to bring your computer back to its original speed and extend its life. Give us a call at 570.235.1946 or schedule an appointment to book in a Tune Up....

23 Apr

Posted at 17:18h in Blog Post
0 Likes

It's Spring Cleaning Time for Your PC! Do you have a “dirty” computer? Chances are, you do. Dust, dirt, hair and other things can get inside your computer, causing anything from minor nuisances to reducing the lifespan of the components inside. But how do you know your computer is dirty if you’ve never looked inside? Here are some symptoms to look out for: Computer Slow Downs Slow downs are usually a dead giveaway that not everything is running smoothly on your hard drive. Over time, the constant adding and removal of files leaves gaps on the disc, where data is overwritten to make room for new applications and files. This is called fragmentation. As part of a tune-up, NEPA Geeks will make sure the hard drive is “de-fragged,” allowing it to work quicker without putting more wear and tear on its sensitive components. Excessive Heat Heat is extremely bad for your computer, and the inside of your computer can be like an oven if vents are blocked and fans aren’t working properly. Irreparable damage to the video card, CPU and memory chips can occur within minutes, leading to costly service and repairs. If your computer gives you odd errors, doesn't boot properly, or sounds like a jet engine taking off, there might too much heat inside. At NEPA Geeks, we will clean out the dust, hair and whatever else might have managed its way into your computer before it’s too late. We’ll make sure the heatsinks are free of dust and that vents are wide open for good airflow. Weird Noises You might not realize it, but there are a lot of moving parts inside your computer. Spinning fans can buzz if dust and other debris touch the fins. Additionally, they buzz when the ball-bearings begin to wear down. NEPA Geeks can replace fans before they fail altogether, allowing your computer to overheat. Hard drives might not look like it, but they have moving parts, as well. Inside is a spinning disc and a “read/write” head that scans the disc and writes or reads data. It looks like a needle on a record! Over time, these parts wear out, leading to buzzing and other noises. Other sounds, such as beeps and clicks, might indicate problems that aren’t immediately obvious or noticeable, but can lead to data loss or permanent damage to the computer’s components. Give NEPA Geeks a Call And there you have it! If your computer is running slower, hotter and making weird noises, it’s definitely time for a spring cleaning! Call us at 570-235-1946 or visit our Contact Page...